On January 2, 2026, the Indian stock market began the new year with significant gains, as both the Nifty50 and Sensex indices closed at fresh record highs. The Nifty50 settled at 26,328.55, up 0.70%, while the BSE Sensex climbed 0.67% to 85,762.01, reflecting broad-based buying interest across various sectors. Among the top performers on this day were key public sector and metal stocks. Coal India Ltd. notably led the Nifty50 gainers, with its stock advancing by 7.15% to close at ₹429. This surge followed the company's announcement that it would permit direct participation of foreign coal buyers from neighboring countries in its Single Window Mode Agnostic (SWMA) auctions, effective January 1, 2026. NTPC Ltd., another major public sector undertaking, also witnessed a substantial rise, climbing 4.56% to ₹351.65. This gain was reportedly fueled by the power generation firm exploring international collaborations in technology and fuel to advance its nuclear ambitions, aiming to set up approximately 30 GW of company-owned nuclear projects by 2047. Hindalco Industries recorded a strong performance, with its shares rising 3.53%. This aligns with a general strength observed in the metal sector on January 2, 2026, as investors anticipated higher metal prices and an improved demand outlook. Other gainers in the Nifty50 included Trent and State Bank of India. Conversely, some stocks, such as ITC, saw declines. The overall market sentiment was positive, supported by domestic institutional buying and optimism regarding economic growth, despite foreign institutional investors remaining net sellers.